Now that you have become one of God's sons
or daughters, the exceeding riches of His grace are continually yours. Actually, God is outworking or living
through you to accomplish His work upon earth. You are a part of His team in serving
and helping others to know Him as you do.
1 John 5:13. [NASB] These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Romans 8:16. [NASB] The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
Philippians 4:7. [NASB] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Look at the new person you have become and see you as God sees you.
1. Your Sins Are Gone:
Psalm 103:12. [NASB] As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Stop and think for a moment, God did not say He removed our sins as far as North is from South - because then they might be found again. North and South MEET at earth's poles! East and West, however, NEVER meet. If one sets off on an eastward journey and never changes direction, he will travel East forever! How good to know that when God removes our sins, they are gone forever. This fact is further amplified:
Hebrews 10:16-17. [NASB] 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them," He then says, 17 "And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
1 John 5:13. [NASB] These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Romans 8:16. [NASB] The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
Philippians 4:7. [NASB] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Look at the new person you have become and see you as God sees you.
1. Your Sins Are Gone:
Psalm 103:12. [NASB] As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Stop and think for a moment, God did not say He removed our sins as far as North is from South - because then they might be found again. North and South MEET at earth's poles! East and West, however, NEVER meet. If one sets off on an eastward journey and never changes direction, he will travel East forever! How good to know that when God removes our sins, they are gone forever. This fact is further amplified:
Hebrews 10:16-17. [NASB] 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them," He then says, 17 "And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
2 Corinthians 5:17. [NASB] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
2 Peter 1:4. [NASB] For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
In many cases, things that used to be important will become less significant, or pass from the scene completely. Those things that used to seem unimportant--such as God, church and Christian living--will suddenly come to central focus in your life.
Don't be frightened or dismayed, God is simply working out His plan for your life. You see, He has a special plan that only you can fulfill exactly the way He wants it fulfilled. Your love, testimony, and service for Him will help others find the new life that you have found and be blessed as a part of God's growing family.
This new nature does not mean that you will never sin again:
1 John 1:8-10. [NASB] 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Neither does your new nature mean that you can live the way you want:
1 John 3:8 [NASB] The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
The conflict of two natures:
Remember, at the time you called upon the Lord you turned your life over to Him, Thus, you now possess a DUAL nature - God's nature in you as well as the old human nature you possessed before you were saved. And because of the old human nature, there will be times when you become weak and these two natures will fight one another.
Romans 7:21-25. [NASB] 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but
I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the
law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in
my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks
be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I
myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my
flesh the law of sin.
The big difference is that the old human nature no longer has complete control of you. The new nature God has given you - Christ's nature - is more powerful:
The big difference is that the old human nature no longer has complete control of you. The new nature God has given you - Christ's nature - is more powerful:
1 John
4:4. [NASB] You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
However, as you continue to give God free reign in your life, you will be able to overcome your old nature.
However, as you continue to give God free reign in your life, you will be able to overcome your old nature.
Galatians 5:16. [NASB] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
If, on some occasion, you slip and sin, just remember God's truth and promise. He has forgiven all your sins - past, present and future. Still, if you do wrong, you must confess that failure to God.
1 John 1:9. [NASB] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What will happen if you don't confess any sin you may encounter day by day?
You will experience the chastening (spiritual spanking) of God. If you are a parent and your child does wrong, you know it is your responsibility to correct them in love. Our Heavenly Father does the same with us.
If, on some occasion, you slip and sin, just remember God's truth and promise. He has forgiven all your sins - past, present and future. Still, if you do wrong, you must confess that failure to God.
1 John 1:9. [NASB] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What will happen if you don't confess any sin you may encounter day by day?
You will experience the chastening (spiritual spanking) of God. If you are a parent and your child does wrong, you know it is your responsibility to correct them in love. Our Heavenly Father does the same with us.
Hebrews 12:6. [NASB] For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.
It will also be well for you to always remember that, although all your sins have been forgiven, "…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad"
2 Corinthians
5:10. [NASB] For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one
may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has
done, whether good or bad.
This is not a judgment to determine whether or not one is worthy of heaven--that fact was settled at, salvation. Rather, it is a time when every Christian will give an account of his Christian life and service in order to receive his rewards.
1
Corinthians 3:13-15. [NASB] 13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
So, even though your sins are gone, and even though you have a new nature, you need to make certain that God has complete control of your life. Proverbs tells how best to accomplish this:
Proverbs 3:5-7. [NASB] 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
As you continue to keep the Lord Jesus Christ in first place in your life, you will continue to enjoy the victory you have won through Him, This is because…
As you continue to keep the Lord Jesus Christ in first place in your life, you will continue to enjoy the victory you have won through Him, This is because…
The most thrilling aspect of your new life in Christ is that you can never lose it. Even though you may disappoint God through sin, by not doing what He has asked (led) you to do, He will never, ever, for any reason whatsoever, go back on his promise of John 6:37: "… and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out."
Jesus will never, ever let you go:
John 10:28. [NASB] "and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
Jesus will confirm you unto the end:
1 Corinthians 1:8. [NASB] who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What wonderful, satisfying truth! Even though you may fail God along the pathway of your Christian life and service, even though you may grieve God's Holy Spirit by not following His leadership (Ephesians 4:30), yea even though there may be days when you “Just don't feel saved," these things do not change the fact of the matter at all. Remember, you were not saved by feelings or an emotional experience (although some emotion was probably involved). You were saved by FAITH in God, and your salvation is now in His hands. He is the One who will do the keeping.
In the event that you do
become discouraged, just turn to Romans 8:38-39 and read these verses to
yourself several times:
"38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " |
The following five points should clarify and describe your spiritual "personality" as a member of the family of God:
Rather, it is God's free gift resulting from one's acceptance of, and faith in, Christ's completed work at Calvary:
Ephesians 2:8-9 [NASB] 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Hebrews 10:10-14. [NASB] 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
2. When one has been genuinely converted, he knows it:
Romans 8:16. [NASB] The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
3. God has promised a deep and abiding peace to His children:
Isaiah 26:3. [NASB] "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because He trusts in You.
Philippians 4:7. [NASB] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7. [NASB] For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
Trials may come, but God always
prevails!
4. A saved person finds himself following Christ:
Hebrews 10:16. [NASB] "This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,"
There is definite change in his life...
2 Corinthians 5:17. [NASB] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
When he is disobedient, God chastises him, but keeps on loving him...
Hebrews 12:6. [NASB] For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives."
5. A born-again person bears Spiritual fruit and walks in the Spirit at all times
Galatians 5:22.23. [NASB] 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Hide these promises and facts in your mind and I heart today, and look forward to a life of rewarding service for Christ.
Your Next Step (click on link): Your New Life in Christ
(Sources: First Steps in a New Direction; JVIM)
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